Driver: A true class act

Published: Friday, February 8, 2013 at 10:25 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, February 8, 2013 at 10:25 a.m.

Contrary to what many people may think, feel-good stories are everywhere.

I will admit that sometimes you may have to dig a little deeper to find them, but they are there.

I ran across one on Thursday, and definitely thought it was worth sharing.

During Super Bowl week, long-time Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver announced that after 14 seasons, all in Green Bay, it was time for him to retire.

The announcement was a blip on the NFL radar during Super Bowl week, but it meant plenty to the people in Green Bay.

After all, Driver is the all-time leading receiver in Packers history, spent years catching passes from Packers greats Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers and is a major fan favorite in Green Bay.

Because of that, 78-year-old cancer survivor and huge Packers fan Angie LeRoy decorated the door of her home in honor of Driver, her favorite Packer, after hearing of his retirement. A local TV station did a story on her.

She told the person doing the story that her wish was to one day meet Driver in person and get a hug from him.

Want to guess who showed up on her doorstep the next day?

You got it.

Driver got word of what LeRoy had done and surprised her with a personal visit on Wednesday.

LeRoy could barely believe it when she opened her door and saw Driver standing there.

Overwhelmed, she broke into tears.

Driver went into her kitchen and gave LeRoy her hug (a bunch of them in fact), signed a few autographs and she attended Driver’s retirement ceremony later that day.

Through tough times of his own, Driver has been molded into the man he is today.

He grew up tough in Houston and suffered through some troubled years as a teenager.

He and his family were homeless at times and lived out of a U-Haul trailer.

Driver attended Alcorn State and was taken in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL draft by Green Bay. Driver caught just 37 passes in his first three seasons until he broke through to become Favre’s No. 1 target in 2002 and made the Pro Bowl.

But his super performances weren’t limited to the field.

He has made hundreds upon hundreds of community appearances over the years and has assisted homeless and underprivileged children in Houston and Green Bay.

As Driver left LeRoy’s home on Wednesday, he blew her a kiss.

After the story hit the web, even fans of the Packers biggest rivals — Chicago, Minnesota and Detroit — were speaking of the same receiver who spent the 14 years torching them in nothing but the highest regard.

That’s the power of a true feel-good story.

Staff Writer Kelly McElroy can be reached at 857-2211 or at kelly.mcelroy@houmatoday.com.

<p>Contrary to what many people may think, feel-good stories are everywhere.</p><p>I will admit that sometimes you may have to dig a little deeper to find them, but they are there.</p><p>I ran across one on Thursday, and definitely thought it was worth sharing.</p><p>During Super Bowl week, long-time Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver announced that after 14 seasons, all in Green Bay, it was time for him to retire.</p><p>The announcement was a blip on the NFL radar during Super Bowl week, but it meant plenty to the people in Green Bay.</p><p>After all, Driver is the all-time leading receiver in Packers history, spent years catching passes from Packers greats Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers and is a major fan favorite in Green Bay.</p><p>Because of that, 78-year-old cancer survivor and huge Packers fan Angie LeRoy decorated the door of her home in honor of Driver, her favorite Packer, after hearing of his retirement. A local TV station did a story on her. </p><p>She told the person doing the story that her wish was to one day meet Driver in person and get a hug from him. </p><p>Want to guess who showed up on her doorstep the next day?</p><p>You got it. </p><p>Driver got word of what LeRoy had done and surprised her with a personal visit on Wednesday.</p><p>LeRoy could barely believe it when she opened her door and saw Driver standing there.</p><p>Overwhelmed, she broke into tears.</p><p>Driver went into her kitchen and gave LeRoy her hug (a bunch of them in fact), signed a few autographs and she attended Driver's retirement ceremony later that day. </p><p>Through tough times of his own, Driver has been molded into the man he is today.</p><p>He grew up tough in Houston and suffered through some troubled years as a teenager.</p><p>He and his family were homeless at times and lived out of a U-Haul trailer.</p><p>Driver attended Alcorn State and was taken in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL draft by Green Bay. Driver caught just 37 passes in his first three seasons until he broke through to become Favre's No. 1 target in 2002 and made the Pro Bowl.</p><p>But his super performances weren't limited to the field.</p><p>He has made hundreds upon hundreds of community appearances over the years and has assisted homeless and underprivileged children in Houston and Green Bay.</p><p>As Driver left LeRoy's home on Wednesday, he blew her a kiss.</p><p>After the story hit the web, even fans of the Packers biggest rivals — Chicago, Minnesota and Detroit — were speaking of the same receiver who spent the 14 years torching them in nothing but the highest regard.</p><p>That's the power of a true feel-good story.</p><p>Staff Writer Kelly McElroy can be reached at 857-2211 or at kelly.mcelroy@houmatoday.com.</p>